Sabine Doryssa Marlowe

Sabine Doryssa Marlowe is Hadrian's younger sister, born with royal permission after Julian Marlowe had Hadrian declared outcaste, replacing him as heir to Delos. She holds the title Countess of Caria, a rainswept world in the Outer Perseus settled between Sabratha and Jadd. Tor Alcuin has long considered her to have the right temperament to rule, describing her as every inch her father's daughter.

Hadrian has never met Sabine, yet when he sends Cassandra out to build alliances, he directs her to Sabine first. He reasons that his ascendancy has elevated Sabine to royalty and that she is best positioned to benefit from it -- and shrewd enough to recognize her own advantage.